The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-12
Women's: Temperance Work.

A paper read before the American Social
Science Association at Saratoga was written
by Miss FrancesE.. Willard, President Of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union. The
title was, "Women and the Temperance
Question It opened with historical sketch
chief officer and Of the women's temperance
societies which preceded it. The sketch was
of decided interest. Some Of its most striking
passages were the following:
1t was at the temperance conventions held
in New York State'iu 1928 that the intolers
ance Of men who would not admit women as
delegates gave its first great impetus to the
woman's rights movements, and it may be
claimed without doing anyinjustice that the
woman's movement Of to-day IS nowhere 50
systematically organized, or 50 steadily and
powerfully growing as in the Womans
Christian Temperance Union and the Pro
hibition party. But 1t should be distinctly
understood that while. frankly avowed,
this movement is the oblique while
committee on "plan of work" reported
sixteen specifications From this report the
following extracts are taken: "We urge tbs
formation Of Woman's Chistian Temper:
ance Union in every State, city, town and
village We urge the careful circulation OF
temperance literature in the peoples homes
and in saloons; teaching the children In Sum
day-schools and public schools the ethics,
chemistry, physiology and hygiene of total
abstinence: seeking permission to edit col
umn in the interest Of temperance in every
newspaper in the land, and in all possible
ways enlisting the press in this reform; en-.
deavoring to secure from the pastors every.
where frequent temperance sermons and
special services in connection with the weekly
prayer meeting and the Sunday-school at
stated intervals; If they be only quarterly;
cfob1ichipe, q ontf- -frpat 1pa ono famDaranc6
coffee rooms and friendly inns, homes for
inebriate women, reformed mems clubs and
MULTIPLICATION of public drinking fountains"
It is given to- Few reformers to see their plans
so generally adopted within period so brief
as that which has elapsed since the Cleve-
land convention. The International Sun
day-school Convention at its Attain
a great petition presented by the Woman's
Temperance Union, took favorable action on
the request for quarterly temperance
lesson in the international series, and the two
triennial conventions since then have
strengthened the provision by which S,00O,-
900 Sunday school children are placed under
temperance instruction from the Bible point
of view. In 1882 the first scientific temper
anee instruction law was adopted by Yer.
mont. and that great work has been carried
steadily forward by the Wonen's Christian
Temperance Union, until now in twenty two
States and nine Territories the study OF
hygiene with special reference to the effects
of stimulants and narcotics" isby legal enact
ment regularly taught in all grades, and IN
several States failure to do this involves
forfeiture Of the educational fund. Besides
all this, the first temperance legislation ever
won from the reluctant National Congress,
in 1886, was result of the combined attack
of our forces led by Mrs. Mary q. Hunt, OF
Boston, our National Superintendent Of this
branch Of our work. By its provisions the
scientific temperance law now extends to all
the Territories, to the Military Academy at
West Point, the Naval Academy at Annap-
oils, and wherever any school receives funds
from the United States Treasury, placing
1000, 900 Of children under scientific temper
ance instruction. 80.
Under the general divisions Of preventive,
educational, evangelistic, social and legal,
and the department Of organization, the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union now
carries on forty distinct lines Of work, and 1t
is, with its thirty-eight auxiliary. State and
nine Territorial unions, besides that Of the
District Of Columbia, the largest society ever
composed exclusively of women and con-
Quoted entirely by them: 1t has been 9rgaRl
lied in every Site and Territory and locally
in about 10000 towns and cities. Great
Britain, Canada and Australia have also or
ganized. As general estimate, the returns
Being altogether incomplete, we think the
number of local unions In the United States
about 10000, including Young, Women's
Christian Temperance Unions, with follow
ing of about 200, 900, besides numerous juVe-
nile organizations. -.